Discover the Similan Islands
The Similan Islands National Park
The Similan Islands (Thai: หมู่เกาะสิมิลัน, RTGS: Mu Ko Similan, Thai pronunciation: [mùː kɔ̀ʔ si.mi.lan]) is an archipelago in the Andaman Sea off the coast of, and part of, Phang Nga Province in southern Thailand. It was established as Mu Ko Similan National Park in 1982 by the forestry department
DIVING THE SIMILAN ISLANDS
Getting there: only reachable by boat Depth: 10 to 40 m Current: Mild to strong Water temperature: 26 to 30 °C Dive type: Reef dive (boulder or walls) Visibility: up to 30 m Diving period: November to April Location: 70km West of Phangna Province |
The Similan archipelago consists of eleven islands:
From north to south they are named: 1. Koh Huyong 2. Koh Payang 3. Koh Payan *Surrounding areas of Island 1, 2, 3 are reserved as sea turtles nesting place where tourists aren't allowed. 4.-5. Koh Meang & Koh Ha (2 connected islands where the National Park has established their offices. 6. Koh Payoo 7. Koh Hua Kalok (also known as Koh Hin Pousar) 8. Koh Similan (the biggest island) 9. Koh Ba-ngu (Christmas Point dive site) 10. -11. Koh Bon (also known as Koh Talu) and Koh Tachai where added a little later to Similan NP (and are today some of the best dive sites in the similans) The name "Similan" actually comes from the Yawi (the local native dialect) word for "nine" to name the cluster of 9 nearby islands in the South. All the Islands are located in the Mu Koh Similan National Park, which covers over 140 square kilometers. This beautiful and vast marine national park is known to divers from all over the world. Lying 70km offshore from Phang-Nga Province, it has smooth granite islands that are as impressive above and below the turquoise Thai waters. The islands, topped with rainforest, are edged with blindingly white beaches and fringed by coral reefs. Coral bleaching and tsunamis have damaged the hard corals, but soft corals are still intact and the fauna found below are still diverse and bountiful. Similan islands still remains a lovely (and popular) place for divers of all levels. The Similan Islands have been made famous for the wealth of their coral reefs teeming with wildlife. Divers and snorkelers can see a number of marine species such as manta rays, sea turtles, sea snakes, a number of pelagic species, and perhaps even a whale shark. In addition to the wonders of the sea, the Similan Islands are habitat of terrestrial and avian wildlife. They are world-renowned for their pristine natural environments above the sea and in their underwater surroundings. Unfortunately, the islands are suffering from too many tourists (up to 7,000 visitors a day in 2017-18 season) and the park authorities have decided in 2018 to limit the number of visitors allowed in Similan Islands to 3,325 people a day. It is now necessary to apply in advance to get your visit permit but your tour operator can do this for you with your passport details. |
Our favorite dive sites in Similan National parks
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WEST OF EDEN, SIMILAN ISLANDS NATIONAL PARKWest of Eden is northwest of Koh Hua Kalok (Island No. 7), next to another renowned Similan divesite named Deep Six.
Most divers start on the west side of the island on top of a coral nursery (at 10 to 12 m), schools of angelfish and snapper are often seen here above the hard and delicate corals. The journey continue zigzagging between rock and channels at 25 to 28 m, where enormous gorgonian seafans bring some colours to the scene. Open your eyes for the shy mantis shrimps, moray eels, yellow spotted pipefish and crowds of Durban shrimps. As you shallow up, watch for barracuda passing overhead as a tornado or an inquisitive turtle swimming by. This is an extraordinary noon or evening jump as the sun radiates through the water on the west of the island. Depth: 28m | Difficulty Level: beginner (but not taking your Open Water course in Similan NP isn't allowed) |
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ELEPHANT HEAD ROCK, SIMILAN ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK
From the boat, this dive site looks like the head of a giant elephant swimming towards you, you can even imagine the nostrils. This pinnacle is situated between Koh Hua Kalok and Koh Similan Similan (Islands #7 and #8) and you will see underwater a maze of granite boulders, channels and swim-throughs at depths between 12 to 30 m. Start your dive on the south side, with a negative entry if possible as drifting with the surface current can make you pass the site. Follow your guide towards a shelter to regroup. From there you can wander from rock to channel, cracks and valley and you will surely encounter lion fish next to giant seafans, murray eels pocking their heads out of their holes or blue spotted sting rays on the sandy patches. If you have good eyes maybe even a seamoth playing hide and seek or a shy reef shark passing into the blue. Depth: 30m | Difficulty Level: current make this site more suitable to intermediate or advanced divers |
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KOH BON, SIMILAN ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK
Koh Bon is the best dive site in Thailand to see manta-rays. Current here can be mild to strong and this should be taken into account by your guide when selecting the entry and exit point for your dive. There are actually 2 main dive sites here: The ridge at the West of Koh Bon is a known cleaning station where mantas are often spotted gliding slowly in the current. Koh Bon pinnacle, a little further north is a bit deep as the top of the pinnacle is at about 18 meters making a great first dive for certified deep divers where Zebra sharks like to hang out. It is possible to "cross" into the blue from the pinnacle to the ridge if current goes in the right direction. Koh Bon being mostly limestone, there are plenty of hooks and crannies hiding pipefish, banded coral shrimp and nudibranchs. Depth: 30m | Difficulty Level: current make this site more suitable to intermediate or advanced divers KOH TACHAI PINNACLE, SIMILAN ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK
It is not possible to set foot on the beautiful island of Koh Tachai since 2018, it has been closed to tourism to help nature regenerate as the island suffered for its popularity and coral in shallow parts near the beach has been greatly damaged. It is a great news for divers however as we are still allowed to dive the offshore Koh Tachai Pinnacle in the south of the island with every better marine life than before. Prefer a negative entry to descend quickly on this site as current is often a challenge. once you are on the bottom there are plenty of shelters to get an easy enough dive but if you stay mid water in current your dive will be short. The west and north sides are covered in beautiful coral gardens and it is a site favoured by hunting trevallies, baracudas as well as giant mantas and whale sharks. There are two other pinnacles slightly to the north, which feature some of the most beautiful corals in Thailand but it is impossible to go around the whole area in one dive. Depth: 30m | Difficulty Level: current make this site more suitable to intermediate or advanced divers Continue your exploration toward Surin National Park in the North... |
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